Coral Reef

Traffic in the city? Live in La Lima where the heat makes your clothes stick to you? But Hondurans are lucky; when the heat and stress of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula or any other hectic city reaches its peak, tranquility is in nearby nature. Whether it’s the bird watching paradise of La Tigra, or the fast waters of the Cangrejal River in La Ceiba, nature can serve as an oasis of relaxation. While Honduras is blessed with a variety of ecosystems from rainforest to woodland, the main jewel in its Mayan crown is without a doubt the coral reef of the Caribbean Sea. Situated in what is the world's second largest coral reef system, thousands of people visit the reef every year, returning home and boasting to friends about spotting sea turtles or snorkeling amongst countless schools of breathtakingly colorful fish. The beauty of this ecosystem is well known; however what many fail to realize is just how much our interaction with it is affecting its basic structure… and not for the better.

What is a coral reef?

For anybody not paying attention in biology class, corals are not colorful rocks! In purely scientific terms they are in fact small animals belonging to the Phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa. Corals live in synergy with a group of algae known as Zooxanthella and together they form what we know as a coral reef. Coral reefs are among the top three most diverse ecosystems and are known for their great biological diversity around the world. They serve as a shelter for over 75% of marine living creatures. Incredibly, these amazing formations are home to one third of all marine fish species.

The coral reefs off the country’s north coast form part of the spectacular Mesoamerican reef system that extends from the northern tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, southward to Belize, Guatemala, and the Bay Islands. The reef expands along the coasts of all four countries reaching depths of up to 5000 meters.

Distribution of coral in Honduras

The Bay Islands are the epicenter of coral reefs in Honduras. Roatan, the largest of the three islands and the one attracting the highest volume of tourists, is completely surrounded by coral. The reefs around Roatan differ in variety, forming both large barrier reefs and small coral banks. Most tourist activity such as scuba diving and snorkeling is centered in the West side of the island: West End, West Bay and Sandy Bay. This area is well known for reef structures that form unique spur and groove like shapes made up of stone corals, soft corals, sponges and algae. A further factor explaining the high density of diving in this particular area is due to the large barrier reef close to the coast. Furthermore, Roatan also has a protected area formed by three small islands: Santa Elena, Morat and Barbareta. These islands are completely surrounded by reefs over 1.5 km wide and 3 to 4 m deep; this is the healthiest and best preserved reef around the island.

The bohemian and soulful island of Utila is enclosed within a barrier reef, however it is smaller in scale than the one found off the coast of Roatan. Scientists believe that Utila´s barrier reef used to be an atoll encircling a small lagoon close to the coast. As time passed the south part of the reef turned into small banks that now resemble the island. Tourists are attracted to a large barrier reef found off the west coast of the island in which you can find a variety of coral formations, especially soft corals. Utila is also surrounded by small cays with small fringing reefs which make for excellent snorkeling sites.

While Roatan and Utila attract more than 90% of tourists that visit the local reefs, Guanaja and the well preserved Cayos Cochinos offer some reef formations unique to both the region and the continent. The south coast of Guanaja possesses a deep lagoon which separates the barrier reef from the island; this lagoon has various pinnacles that are amazingly covered with coral. The Southwest side has a barrier reef parallel to the coast line, which makes it easy to distinguish an external barrier and numerous internal barriers. The Natural Marine Monument Cayos Cochinos is located 30 kilometers off the coast of La Ceiba. Most of this area is made up of shallow reefs between 1 and 25 m. Alternatively, the west side of the Cayos presents a wide area of soft corals, hard corals and sea grass up to 18m. One can also observe a fringing reef and a barrier reef with 66 different species of soft and hard coral, a barely credible amount for such a small location.

Mistreatment of the reefs The Coral that navigates the northern coastline serves as a blessing for nature lovers, tourists, and also for the local economy. Residents within the region have benefited from the income and wealth it has generated. From dive shops and hotels, to baleada stands and fishing boats; the industry that surrounds the coral reef has transformed what was once seen as a “sleepy” region. Unfortunately the growth of tourism into Honduras has started to take its toll on the reefs wellbeing. More and more hotels are being built and as the Bay islands become increasingly urbanized, the sedimentation and waste generated by its growing population is pushing the islands resources to their limit. The waste management system in Roatan is considered by many residents to be far from ideal, and light years away from being considered “green” as a good proportion of waste reaches the ocean. Furthermore, large commercial cruise ships that visit Roatan by the hundreds each year have been accused far too often of dumping waste into the local waters. All this contamination causes a number of diseases to the reef, from which most corals are not able to recover.

A further concern is the direct damage caused to the reef by divers that are not aware of the potential damage they can cause to the reef by simply touching, hitting against, or standing on coral. Also, “coral poaching” is a black market industry that thrives by tempting uninformed tourists to purchase souvenirs that come at an ecological cost.

Perhaps the most severe threats impacting the reef system come from local fishing activity. Bomb fishing on coral reefs is estimated to destroy close to 4% of live coral each year. If this fishing trend continues the reef could be transformed beyond recognition in less than three decades! Also, many of the fishing vessels currently in circulation are powered by old outboard engines. Unfortunately, operation of these motors causes the discharge of a number of pollutants such as oil and petrol which can severely damage the purity of the coral. Conventional two-stroke engines used by many fishing and private boats are high polluters relative to their engine size and usage, releasing a range of toxins into the water and air. As substantial power is required to move small craft through water, even the better performing engines can discharge far greater quantities of pollutants per hour than the typical car engines.

The importance and future of the reefs

Reefs are a very valuable resource with innumerable benefits. They are the life force of the northern coast in regards to industry. As crucial marine habitats, many countries including Honduras depend on them to maintain their fishing trade as they are home to many species of fish used for human consumption and with great economic importance.

Reefs serve as a protective shield, providing the coasts with shelter from erosion and flooding. They also provide the proper habitat for many marine organisms which will provide food for superior organisms, forming an important food chain needed to maintain balance in the oceans. Corals and other organisms with a calcium skeleton supply the coasts with those pristine white sandy beaches that make even the most cynical beachgoer crave a bucket and spade.

We have barely uncovered the tip of the iceberg as to all the medical and commercial applications associated with the reef. They are a source of recreation and they stimulate tourism attracting millions of divers every year thanks to their diversity and beauty. Sadly, In spite of its ecological importance and matchless splendor, they are being threatened by human activities. While many local residents have rallied together to provide some form of protection to the reefs in Roatan and Cayos Cochinos, it is key for local government to take initiative and impart strict regulation on practices that will not only protect the reef but encourage its future development and growth. We as citizens and visitors must also take responsibility for our own actions as it the detrimental effects that ignorance and carelessness can cause are clear. Smarter swimmers, eco-friendly fishermen, and greener waste management will protect the reef before it is too late. Also, lessons can be learned from our neighbors Costa Rica and Guatemala; the development and promotion of ecotourism in other sites such as the national park in Punta Sal or the Rio Platano biosphere could perhaps ease the pressure on the reefs while still retaining vital income associated with tourism.

As the saying goes “Knowledge makes us responsible” and it is vital we act now; that way future generations will enjoy the colors, fish, sea turtles, and whale sharks that we have been blessed with. After all, with the current economic climate not everybody can afford a diving trip to Australia!